Missouri expands drone restrictions around critical infrastructure as World Cup starts
As Missouri gears up to host its first slate of matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this week, state lawmakers recently approved new restrictions on drone operations near critical infrastructure facilities as part of a sweeping public safety bill Gov. Mike Kehoe signed into law Friday.
House Bill 2637, sponsored by state Rep. John Black and state Sen. Nick Schroer, both Republicans, expands the state’s existing “critical infrastructure facility” drone law, broadens its authority to regulate unmanned aircraft systems and increases penalties for certain drone-related offenses.
Under the new law, operators are prohibited from flying drones over or within designated critical infrastructure — such as water, wastewater or electric power plants — expanding protections for sites considered essential to public safety and economic security. It lowers the threshold for protected open-air facilities from venues with a capacity of 5,000 people to those accommodating 500 people, significantly increasing the number of locations covered by the restrictions.
The law also strengthens penalties for criminals using drones to deliver weapons, explosives or other prohibited items into restricted areas. Violators can be charged with a felony, with increased penalties for repeat violations and conduct that poses security risks.
The changes reflect a broader trend among state governments seeking to address security risks posed by increasingly affordable and capable drone technology. Over the next two months, Kansas City, Missouri, is hosting six official FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which holds more than 70,000 seats.
“This bill includes several provisions to make Missouri safer by modernizing tools available to the criminal justice system,” Kehoe said in a statement. “With FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and events gearing up in Kansas City, this legislation also allows law enforcement to effectively combat the threat of unlawful unmanned aircraft systems.”
In April, the Center for Internet Security, a New York nonprofit, raised concerns about how drones are introducing a new category of risk that is outpacing the systems state and local governments rely on to secure large public gatherings. Unlike threats on the ground, the report found that aerial drones can bypass barriers like fences and checkpoints, creating challenges for agencies tasked with protecting large gatherings, such as concerts, festivals or sporting events, and even correctional facilities.
The new law builds on the Kansas City Police Department’s recently deployed command post bus, a mobile operations center designed to support real-time decision-making during matches. The vehicle is equipped with two tethered drones, which can stay on the bus continuously with no battery changes and have both night and thermal vision capabilities.
In addition to increased drone regulations, the public safety bill also makes significant changes to sentencing, parole eligibility, sex offender registration, human trafficking penalties and technology-facilitated crimes like AI-generated deepfake pornography.
